BY: RACHEL WUMKES

One of the biggest complaints I’ve seen during this whole crisis is boredom.  For anyone with kids, you know the struggle with this is real.  I hear “I’m so bored!” at least one hundred times each day.

Hey… I have 5 kids.  This number is not inflated.

While online learning has picked up in full force this week, it does help to fill some of the time.  Still, the days seem to drag on endlessly.  There’s no difference between “daytime” and “nighttime” anymore.  The weekends feel exactly the same as the weekdays.

This is where the crazy starts to set in.  The monotony of being inside day after day after day.  On the bright side, it appears the weather will be more in our favor next week with sunshine and warmer days.  Hallelujah!

So, what can you do to combat the boredom? Well, here are my top 5 ideas.

  1. Cleaning
    1. Most people hate to clean. But I’m not talking about just your run-of-the-mill cleaning here.  I’m talking about deep cleaning.  Pulling everything out of your closet, cleaning the shelves, baseboards and floor, and then organizing and purging items as you put them back in.
    2. Ideas are: kitchen cupboards, garage, storage room, under the bathroom sink, children’s room and closets.
  2. TV Binge
    1. Thanks to things like Netflix and Hulu, we can watch about any show we want and any time. Now would be the perfect time to watch that series all your friends have been talking about!  Let yourself have a binge day and just relax!
  3. Napping
    1. A friend of mine posted the other day how she has never gotten so much sleep in her life! I agree.  I’ve been sleeping about an hour later than normal each morning, and often find myself drifting off for a little power nap late afternoon.
    2. I think our bodies had been more rundown than we realized. Running from activity to activity over the years.  Between work and school and kids and friends and family, the pressure to keep up with it all took a toll on us that we didn’t know.  This is your chance to re-charge!
  4. Board games, cards & Puzzles
    1. Everyone loves a good bout of organized competition. Well… most people.  As we have five children in this house between the ages of 5 and 11, things often get out of hand quickly when we attempt to play a board game or cards.
    2. That being said – now is maybe a good time to teach your child about being a good loser and a good winner. I think we’d all agree it’s an imperative life lesson to have!
    3. If you cannot work together – try a puzzle! Zero competition and they take forever to complete.  Win-Win!
  5. Reading
    1. I love a good book. Diving deep into the pages of an awesome story will take you on an adventure while you’re stuck at home.
    2. If you’re a lover of romance novels, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Rachel Smith’s books on Amazon HERE. She is amazing.
    3. Also, she is me.
    4. Or, for the little people in your life, check out my line of children’s books

I hope you are all healthy tucked safely inside your homes.  I know it’s not an ideal situation, but we are instrumental in flattening the curve of this virus.  Thankfully, because of technology, we can stay connected to those we love and miss dearly.  I’d love to hear what you’ve been doing while in self-quarantine.  Drop a comment on our Facebook Page and let me know!

See ya – from a socially acceptable distance – at the Lake!